Transferring a Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement
Information for agreement holders about transferring all or part of a Countryside Stewardship agreement to another person.
Applies to England
When a Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement holder wants to transfer all or part of the land under their agreement (transferor) to another person (transferee), the transferee has the choice to continue managing options under the CS agreement on the transferred parcels of land. Capital only agreements are not eligible to be transferred.
About CS agreement transfers
A CS agreement transfer can take place when there is a change in occupancy or ownership due to:
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sale
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change in tenancy or lease
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death
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inheritance
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change in business structure, which causes a change in Single Business Identifier (SBI)
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force majeure or exceptional circumstances
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a business restructure resulting in a new SBI being issued by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
An agreement transfer could involve a transfer:
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of all or part of the agreement
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to one or a number of different beneficiaries
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to an existing agreement holder, though this is not a requirement to be eligible for a transfer
The following scenarios are not considered an agreement transfer:
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a change to a name or contact where the SBI remains the same. To make changes to the agreement holder’s details, read the Register and update your details with the Rural Payments Agency guidance.
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probate cases where the SBI remains the same. We can still make CS payments to the existing SBI, as long as there is an executor. If the beneficiary has received a new SBI, this will involve a transfer of agreement.
When transferring a CS agreement, the transferor and transferee can be, or can include, the same individuals where they’re registered under different SBIs (for example, where a business is restructured).
Principles of CS agreement transfers
An agreement transfer is a continuation of the original agreement either in whole or part. The transferee must meet the same eligibility criteria and follow the same rules set out in the relevant CS manual or guidance for the year the transferor’s agreement was set up.
The point of transfer is when the transferee accepts the agreement.
Agreement transfers are a ‘lift and shift’ of the options on the transferred land, with no re-negotiation of options allowed.
If a transferee wants to take over management of the options on the transferred land, the transferee must notify RPA in writing within 90 calendar days from the day after the ‘effective date of transfer’ (the actual date the transfer of land took place).
If the transferee is not taking on management of all the options of the agreement, the transferor must notify RPA in writing within 90 calendar days from the day after the effective date of transfer.
Capital only grant agreements are non-transferrable. Unclaimed capital items on a Multi-Annual CS agreement can be transferred.
Amendments of CS agreements
If the transfer relates to only part of the land under the original agreement or to only part of the agreement itself, RPA may amend the original CS agreement. If the transferee does not wish to take on the CS agreement, the agreement will be terminated for the land that is transferred. RPA may amend the original CS agreement or it may be terminated.
What you need to do
What you need to do depends on whether you are the transferor or the transferee.
If you are the transferor (the person transferring land out of your agreement)
Transfer land out of your SBI in the Rural Payments service or submit an RLE1 form.
Inform the transferees taking over all or part of your agreement that they must complete the Transfer In form.
Provide the transferees with a copy of your CS Agreement documents for the land they are taking over.
Complete and return the Transfer Out form if all or any part of your agreement is not being taken on by the transferees. Make sure that the people signing the Transfer Out form have ‘Submit’ permissions for CS in the Rural Payments service. Once completed, send the Transfer Out form to us.
There is no need to complete a Transfer Out form for any land where management of the options will continue.
If you are the transferee (the new owner or occupier)
Complete the Transfer In form if you are taking over all or part of the transferor’s agreement.
Make sure that the people signing the form have ‘Submit’ permissions for CS in the Rural Payments service.
What happens next
If we are satisfied with the transferee’s Transfer In form and supporting information, we will send an agreement offer to the transferee.
The transferee must sign the transfer declaration and return it to us.
We will then send the transferee a new agreement. The transferee will need to confirm their acceptance.
The transferor will receive a letter confirming the transfer of the agreement has been completed.
Claims or payments
If the transferee takes on the agreement, any outstanding payments for the agreement after the effective date (1 January of the year of transfer) will be paid to the transferee.
If the transferee does not take on the agreement, the transferor will not receive a pro-rata payment for any months where they still have full management control of the land. They must have management control for the full 12 months of the control year 1 January to 31 December to receive payment.
If the transfer is not completed before the claim deadline (15 May) and you have not received a CS Revenue claim form please follow the How to make a capital or revenue claim guidance.
Find out more about CS transfers
Read the relevant Countryside Stewardship scheme manual or guidance for more information about CS transfers.
Contact RPA
Contact RPA if you have any queries:
Rural Payments Agency (CS)
PO Box 324
Worksop
S95 1DF
Email: ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk
Tel: 03000 200 301
Opening times: 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
Find out about call charges at www.gov.uk/call-charges